Kindamo - Smart Mirror
A smart mirror that helps build healthy mindset.
Smart Mirror | Internet of things | Body dissatisfaction | Behavioral science | Social media
Interaction Design Thesis project, California State University, East Bay
Team: Ayushi, Ferdi, and Fernando
Tools used: Raspberry pi, SRO4 Sensors, Monitor, Two way mirror, Magic mirror software, Figma
Role: UX designer, Prototyping lead, Full stack Developer
Duration: 4 Months
Skills: IOT, Physical Prototyping, UX Design, Ux Research, HTML, CSS, JS, Node.js
Product Trailer:
Kindamo is a smart mirror designed to help users, particularly the younger generation to combat body dissatisfaction caused by social media, specifically Instagram.
The project concept is initiated by a group of millennials who recognized the negative impact that smartphones, social media, and the unrealistic beauty standards portrayed by them have on mental health and self-esteem.
Kindamo , the smart mirror at a gallery exhibition
Design process and timeline
Problem space
We did extensive literary research and user interviews and found various evidence in research papers that shows excessive use of social media can lead to decreased self-esteem and a negative impact on overall well-being. The rise of social media has become an essential part of daily life for many people, particularly in younger populations between 18 and 35 years old.
Social media is often used to share content emphasizing physical attractiveness and self-promotion, exposing users to the ideas of beauty, perfection, and ideal body image. Both men and women with high exposure to ideal images on social media experienced significantly high body dissatisfaction.
Smartphone
Smartphones and the internet have become the central means of communication and lifestyle in modern society
Social Media
Instagram primarily used for self-promotion with a focus on physical attractiveness.
How might we design interventions or tools that help social media users, particularly those aged 18-35, build and maintain positive self-esteem and well-being despite exposure to idealized body images and self-promotion on social media?
Behavioral Change:
Targeting underlying behaviors and attitudes to combat body dissatisfaction and promote positive body image.
Social Impact
Studies show a negative impact on body image, especially among the young, from consuming self-promotional content on Instagram.
How did we solve that?
An interactive smart mirror that promotes self-love and body positivity
The smart mirror focuses on three main areas:
Positive Affirmations : Using positive and uplifting statements to challenge and overcome negative thoughts promotes self-esteem, boosts confidence, and cultivates a more optimistic mindset.
Support system: Motivation from social circle proven to be effective in changing behavior
Research Summary
Unhealthy life
Body dissatisfaction leads to low self-esteem, an increased risk of eating disorders, and an unhealthy lifestyle.
Breathwork & Meditation: Incorporating breath-work and meditation into one's routine can contribute to a holistic sense of well-being, encompassing mental, emotional, and physical health.
Body dissatisfaction among social media users is primarily fueled by social comparison
Social media provides a personal and relatable experience compared to traditional advertising, with comments from their social circle about physical appearance significantly influencing users' self-perception.
To address the negative impacts of social media on self-perception, strategies include digital literacy education, mental health resources, promoting body positivity, platform controls like comment moderation, and parental guidance for safer usage.
Guiding design principle
Behavioral change through embedded technology
Nudge:
Introducing subtle environmental adjustments that encourage healthier choices and behaviors.
Embedded Technology:
Providing ongoing support and feedback seamlessly integrated into daily routines to facilitate lasting behavioral improvements.
Emerging opportunity of using “Nudge”
We brainstormed various solutions and opportunities for each stage and ultimately honed in on pre-contemplation, contemplation, and preparation due to the abundance of potential and the limited technology available in these stages.
We incorporated the theory of “Nudge,” in which changing the environment or context can change people's behavior. Given that examining oneself in front of a mirror can trigger psychological responses related to body image, we believe that nudging users during this activity could be a promising solution.
Translating Nudge into UI design
Before getting into the physical prototype, we made screens on figma to iterate on the designs.
Pre-contemplation ——-
Contemplation —--
Putting together end-to-end design with onboarding—-daily checkins——Spotify and breath-work integration ——-affirmations & support system.
1. Onboarding Experience: Utilizing face ID for enhanced privacy and control, users can activate the mirror only when needed, ensuring a personalized and secure experience.
2. Daily Check-Ins: Collecting daily and goal check-ins to personalize content and user experience, reflected through positive affirmations and tailored podcasts.
3. Positive Affirmation & Social Motivation: Customizable affirmations motivate and encourage confidence, with adjustable reminder frequencies to meet user preferences.
4. Breath-Work & Spotify Integration: Users can select additional modules such as breathwork exercises, Spotify music, or podcasts for a holistic experience.
——-Action
Physical Prototype and Development
Findings from low tech user testing of pretotype:
We put together a pretotype to see how users interacted with a smart mirror and what parts of screen we could use for features like affirmations and spotify music that solve the problem space.
Users enjoyed seeing positive affirmations in the mirror and preferred varied audio options, from calming sounds to upbeat music, to suit their moods.
Notifications about Instagram usage caused annoyance and guilt, while some felt displayed information was too centered, but they appreciated the schedule and morning weather updates.
As the prototype lead, I dove into experimenting with sensors and Raspberry Pi to build a cool physical prototype.
One significant aspect to consider during this experimentation is determining how the interaction would work. This involves designing the user interface and defining how users will engage with the system. Through intuitive interfaces and seamless interactions, users can easily operate the software developed using Raspberry Pi and sensors.
Social Circle Motivation: Messages from friends for encouragement & motivation.
Breath Work :Encouraging users to slow down through breath work animation
4. Orientation: We changed the orientation multiple times to fit in all the features and for better interaction.
3. Smart Touch & IR Frame: We found the IR frame the best to convert our screen and two way mirror into a touch screen.
Prototyping phase 2 : Integrating modules and touch interaction
We used magic mirror software on raspberry pi as the base to integrate various module and an IR frame that converted the screen into a touch screen. The next part was converting the device into a mirror, so we bought a two way mirror to put on top.
Everything coming together
We built the wooden box for the smart mirror with a lot of care and precision. Each part was designed and tested to make sure it was functional, sturdy, and looked great. By using high-quality materials and exact methods, we ended up with a durable and stylish case for the prototype.
Guerrilla User Testing
Location: California State University East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA
Aim: Gather extensive feedback on the user experience within a short timeframe. Minimal instruction on a whiteboard invited users to look at themselves in the mirror and provide immediate feedback.
Summary :
Impressed with smart mirror, many described it as “futuristic” and suggested a larger size.
Positive affirmations were welcomed greatly, and most of the people cited an uplifting feeling.
Breath-Work did not greatly impacted participants, probably due to public settings.
Loved the Spotify integration playing music or podcast and cited the musical experience as “Calming”
Confusion with “New Message”. Can be changed to “Message from friend’s name.
Final Reflection
"Not the end, but merely the beginning."
The best part of this project was continuous experimentation and moving on from failures and finally deciding what could be the minimum viable product.
I went back to coding and development which i did at the start of my career but moved to design. It was a great learning experience.
Overall, the smart mirror “kindamo” bought in more questions to solve, like: How can we ensure that positive affirmations remain effective in the long term without becoming repetitive or leading to toxic positivity? Are there alternative approaches we can take to reinforce positive self-image and self-esteem in users?